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PSGY1005 Addiction and the Brain > cocaine > Flashcards

cocaine Flashcards

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1
Q

what it cocaine derived from?

A

coca plant

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2
Q

what was cocaine used for in the past?

A

herbal remedy

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3
Q

who was the psychologist that was greatly enthused by cocaine and its beneficial side effects?

A

Sigmund Freud

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4
Q

where does the coca plant originate from?

A

South America

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5
Q

traditionally, who and how was the coca plant used?

A
  • Bolivian minors
  • chewed coca leaf
  • helped them work long hours
  • this is because cocaine is a stimulant (just like coffee and nicotine)
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6
Q

give examples of how cocaine was previously used

A
  • chewing coca leaf
  • local anaesthetic for teething babies
  • cocktail drinks
  • active ingredient of coca-cola in early 1900’s
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7
Q

identify properties and uses of cocaine

A
  • water soluble
  • water soluble in form of hydrochloride salt
  • crack = freebase and suitable for smoking
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8
Q

how is the most rapid and highest peak from cocaine produced?

A
  • produced by intravenous administration (injection)
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9
Q

what effect does smoking freebase cocaine result in?

A
  • rapid peak
  • less pronounced than if you were in inject
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10
Q

what effect does snorting/intranasal administration of cocaine have?

A
  • later peak
  • higher peak than smoking
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11
Q

what effect does oral administration of cocaine have?

A
  • most delayed onset of effects
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12
Q

identify behavioural effects of cocaine in humans

A

mild/moderate (typically positive)
- euphoria
- increased interest in sex/inflated self-esteem
- heightened energy
- heightened excitement

severe (typically negative)
- irritability
- hostility
- anxiety
- fear
- exhaustion
- rambling
delusions of grandiosity

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13
Q

what does the hypothetical relationship between cocaine use, dopamine levels and mood resemble?

A

a sine wave

  • initially increased synaptic concentrations of dopamine = associated with euphoria
  • followed by reduced synaptic concentration of dopamine = associated with craving and dysphoria (negative mood)
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14
Q

how are cocaine’s effects mediated?

A
  • mediated by its actions on the sympathetic nervous system
  • SNS = speeds up processes
  • increases alertness
  • increases heart rate
  • increases blood flow to muscles
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15
Q

what are some physiological effects of cocaine?

A
  • high and ‘rush’
  • vasoconstriction (contraction of blood vessels -> increasing blood pressure)
  • hypertension (abnormally high blood pressure)
  • stroke
  • intercranial haemorrhage
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16
Q

describe the mechanisms of cocaine action

A
  • dopamine travels down axon enclosed in vesicles
  • vesicles merge with pre-synaptic membrane
  • dopamine released
  • level of post-synaptic activation depends on availability of dopamine within synaptic cleft
  • this is regulated by dopamine transporter
  • this normally removes excess dopamine for re-use
  • cocaine blocks dopamine transporter
  • causes dopamine availability within synaptic cleft to increase
  • causes post-synaptic activity of dopamine neurones to increase
17
Q

other than dopamine receptors, what else does cocaine block?

A
  • inhibits synaptic levels of noradrenaline
  • inhibits serotonin
  • blocks nerve conduction by inhibition of sodium channels
18
Q

what compound has been used in clinical trials as a treatment for cocaine relapse and craving?

A
  • lidocaine
19
Q

explain the role of dopamine in psychomotor stimulant-induced behaviour (with regards to brain areas)

A
  • dopamine projections from nucleus accumbens and striatum
  • these areas are mostly where dopamine is produced
  • most extreme purely motor effect = stereotypy (persistent repetition of an act with no meaning)
  • stereotypy = identified with the striatum
20
Q

what neurotransmitter is they key to the understanding of the mechanisms of cocaine action? give examples

A
  • dopamine
  • microinjections of cocaine into nucleus accumbens = increase locomotor activity
  • tests of self-administration to nucleus accumbens test for localised reinforcing effects
  • lesions to nucleus accumbens deplete dopamine, reducing locomotor activity and the reinforcing effects of cocaine (reinforcing effects = increasing levels of dopamine)
21
Q

outline Rocha et al. (1998) study into cocaine self-administration in individual wild-type mice

A
  • collected data for 4 mice
  • looking at the importance of dopamine transporter (DAT)
  • in mice lacking dopamine transporter, it was found that self-administering of cocaine decreased
  • highlighting importance of cocaines actions at dopamine transporter
  • wild-type mice without genetic deletion = found steady increase in total number of injections
  • confirms role of dopamine transporter and the reinforcing effects of cocaine
22
Q

outline Vorel et al. (2002) study that looks into cocaines enhancement of brain stimulation reward by a dopamine antagonist

A
  • cocaine normally adds to the effects of brain stimulation reward (BSR)
  • implanted stimulating electrodes in part of reward pathway
  • cocaine enhanced rats responded for BSR = 20% over baseline
  • cocaines enhancement of BSR = blocked by SB-277011-A (dopamine antagonist)
  • appeared to decreased enhancement of BSR
23
Q

outline Inada et al. (1992) study into how cocaine’s actions depend on the schedule of administration

A
  • measured locomotor activity in 3 groups
  • saline infused rats = control group
  • cocaine infused group were first administered cocaine over 11 days
  • then cocaine challenge was produced by an injection of cocaine
  • locomotor activity in response to cocaine challenge shows evidence that chronic pre-treatment with continuous infusion produced tolerance
  • shows schedule of administration produced a tolerance
24
Q

outline Post & Contel (1983) study into chronic use of cocaine and how it can lead to sensitisation rather than tolerance

A
  • researchers administered cocaine as single injection per day
  • behavioural measure = stereotypy ratings
  • increasing stereotypy levels were shown over the successive days of the study and cocaine treatments
  • because stereotypy was increased -> suggests that sensitisation was induced
  • sensitisation = increased responsitivity
25
Q

what does the development of tolerance depend on?

A

administration schedule

  • behavioural response measured
  • time elapsed since last dose
  • short time since last dose = associated with tolerance
  • long time since last dose = associated with sensitisation
26
Q

identify pharmacological treatments for cocaine addiction

A
  • use of antidepressants = modulates dopamine indirectly
  • dopamine antagonists
  • vaccines
27
Q

identify behavioural treatments for cocaine addiction

A
  • avoiding triggers for relapse
28
Q

identify psychosocial treatments for cocaine addiction

A
  • counselling
  • support
29
Q

outline Carreza et al. (2001) study into behavioural responses to cocaine in vaccinated rats

A
  • measures activity between immunised and non-immunised rats following the challenge of a cocaine injection
  • cocaine = expected to produce surge in activity
  • found that surge in activity = greatly reduced in immunised group
  • shows that behavioural and physiological responses to cocaine should be similarly reduced by vaccines

PSGY1005 Addiction and the Brain (18 decks)

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